Sound-producing instrument



Dec. 30, 1930. P. HAIMS SOUND PRODUCING INSTRUMENT Filed April 28, 1950 Fan-1.4

s v. mm a m N m m V n m v m A P Patented Dec. 30, 1930 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP L. HAIMS, or CLEVELAND, 01110 SOUND-PRODUCING INSTRUMENT Application filed April 28, 1930. Serial No. 447,938.

This invention relates to sound producing instruments, and; is in the nature of a toy or simple musical instrument for producing different tones by means of a vibrating metal 5 reed or strip. v

In one form means are provided for varying the effective length and consequently the. pitch ofthe reedyso that it is possible to play a simple tune on the device.

Itis intended thatthe reed should be struck by the finger or other object to start a screened opening 11 at one end if desired,

Mounted on thetop of this box is a reed 12 of thin spring metal, which is fastened at oneend to the top of the box as indicated at 13'. This reed is bowedupwardly out of contact with thetop of the box, and its free .end projects beyond the side of the box and is provided witha weight 25 to decreasethe 3n rapidity of thevibrations. This weight may be tapped by the finger or other object to start the vibration of the reed, which will thus sound a note which will be amplified by the sound box. 7

To vary the effective length of the reed I provide a stop or choke bar 14 extending across the same, and capable of being adjusted lengthwise of the reed. The ends of this bar 14 are held on screws 15 by means nuts 16' and moving the bar 14 back and forth, which will vary the pitch accordingly.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 a sound box is indicated at 27, and the reel 24 is fastened to the top thereof and may be vibrated in a similar-manner, over the opening 29 into the box. In this form the choke bar is omitted,

and the reed may be choked by pressing the finger thereon.

In the simple 21 portable and edge of a table or 0 end by the finger effective length of I claim form shown in Fig. 3 the'reed it may be placed on the ii any box and held at one piece 22 while the other end is struckand vibrated. And obviously the hand may be used to choke or vary the the reed.

1. A sounding instrument comprising a sounding box, a vibrating reed extending across the box and fixed at one end thereto,

the other end being free and projecting beyond the side of the box, a stop bar movable along the reed, an

d guides on the box, for

the opposite ends of the stop bar.

12. A sounding instrument comprising a sounding box, a vibratingreed extending across the top of the box and fixed at one end thereto, the other end of the reed being free, and the reed being bowed upwardly out of contact with the top of the box, a stop bar extending across the reed in contact with the upper side the roof, said stop bar being movable laterally to vary the effective length of the reed, and adjustable fastenings between the opposite the top of the box.

ture.

of nuts 16 pressing the ends of the bar against V springs 18 coiled around the screws above a roller washer 19- held by a screw 20. Each screw 15 is slidable in a slot 17 in aiblock 23 fastened to the top of the box at each end thereof, the bar 14 extending through a slot- 30 in the side 'of the block, and the ends of the stop bar and n testimony whereof, I do affix my signa- PHILIP L. nan is. 

